Making Sustainable Development Goals Work for People in Africa: A Tourism Perspective

Abstract

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide a framework for addressing development challenges through integrated economic, social, and environmental strategies. In Africa, where deficits coexist with rich natural and cultural assets, tourism plays a strategic role in sustainability debates. Despite recognition of its potential, progress toward the SDGs remains off-track. The 2024 Africa Sustainable Development Report revealed that only 6 percent of measurable targets are on course for achievement by 2030, with over 281 million Africans facing food insecurity and persistent structural unemployment. This paper examines tourism as a pathway for advancing SDGs in Africa, emphasising people-centred development and environmental sustainability. Adopting the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework (SLF), it draws on peer-reviewed literature, policy frameworks, and institutional reports published between 2015 and 2024. The study explores tourism’s alignment with Africa’s SDG priorities, assesses economic and environmental contributions, reviews policy instruments, and identifies opportunities for strengthening tourism-led partnerships. Using evidence from Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, and Morocco, the findings show tourism can contribute to poverty reduction, employment, environmental conservation, sustainable urban growth, and global partnerships when guided by sustainability principles. The paper concludes that policy coherence, regulatory frameworks, and inclusive collaboration are essential for leveraging tourism to achieve the SDGs in Africa.